In 2012, a 17-year-old African-American boy Trayvon Martin was fatally shot by a Sanford, Florida volunteer neighbourhood watcher George Zimmerman.

On the evening of February 26th, Trayvon went to a convenience store and purchased candy and juice, as he returned, Zimmerman called the police and told them that Trayvon looked suspicious.

There was an altercation moments later and Zimmerman shot the unarmed teen in the chest. He died.

Trayon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fultonwrote a heartbreaking letter to the family of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, who was shot at least six times by a police officer.

She begins with, “I wish I had a word of automatic comfort but I don’t. I wish I could say that it will be alright on a certain or specific day but I can’t. I wish that all of the pain that I have endured could possibly ease some of yours but it won’t. What I can do for you is what has been done for me: pray for you then share my continuing journey as you begin yours.”

Sybrina who also experienced a devastating time after her son’s death continues, saying:
“I hate that you and your family must join this exclusive yet growing group of parents and relatives who have lost loved ones to senseless gun violence. Of particular concern is that so many of these gun violence cases involve children far too young. But Michael is much more than a police/gun violence case; Michael is your son. A son that barely had a chance to live. Our children are our future so whenever any of our children – black, white, brown, yellow, or red – are taken from us unnecessarily, it causes a never-ending pain that is unlike anything I could have imagined experiencing.

Further complicating the pain and loss in this tragedy is the fact that the killer of your son is alive, known, and currently free. In fact, he is on paid administrative leave. Your own feelings will bounce between sorrow and anger. Even when you don’t want to think about it because it is so much to bear, you will be forced to by merely turning on your television or answering your cell phone. You may find yourselves pulled in many different directions by strangers who may be well-wishers or detractors. Your circle will necessarily close tighter because the trust you once, if ever, you had in “the system” and their agents are forever changed. Your lives are forever changed.

However with those changes come new challenges and opportunities. You will experience a swell of support from all corners of the world. Many will express their sympathies and encourage you to keep fighting for Michael. You will also, unfortunately, hear character assassinations about Michael which I am certain you already have. This will incense and insult you. All of this will happen before and continue long after you have had the chance to lay your son to rest.

I know this because I lived and continue to live this. I have devoted my life to the comprehensive missions of The Trayvon Martin Foundation – including providing support to families that have lost a young child to senseless gun violence regardless of race, ethnicity or gender. I will support you and your efforts to seek justice for your Michael and the countless other Michaels & Trayvons of our country. The 20 Sandy Hook children. Jordan Davis. Oscar Grant. Kendrick Johnson. Sean Bell. Hadya Pendleton. The Aurora shooting victims. The list is too numerous to adequately mention them all. According to The Children’s Defense Fund, gun violence is the second leading cause of death for children ages 1-19. That is a horrible fact.”

Black people kill other black people in america,on the street and gang violence, but you don’t see people protesting, I’m sorry for the loss of your son,madame.there are racist white police officers everywhere, something needs to be done about that.

awweee. :(…there is no justice in the world
forget human beings our sense of judgement is imperfect and corrupted by so many things………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sadly, no amount of verdict or whatever can bring these kids back to life
me I’m waiting for Oscar Pistorius’ final case. If he doesn’t spend at least 25 yrs in jail for killing my Reeva, then iz ol ova Jackie.. x

What everyone seems to forget is that this dude went to a shop to steal a cigarrette a few minutes before he was shot. Come on guys, whethr he was armed or not does not justify his actions,I am hundred percent black but sad to say, our black brothers make up a larger percentage of d criminals depending on what part of the States it is. on the other hand, the so called protesters in Ferguson, Missouri are looting shops and shooting at the officers.Truth be told, guys.Lets stop patronizing evil……….

And stop patronising murder!!!! COME!!! ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since when did the penalty for stealing a cigarette become murder?????? Ciga kwa???? Even if he killed some1, isn’t there a justice system ANYMORE????? Ssmh…just pray that directly or indirectly all these social ills do not come close to you…#kmt

Michael Brown did not steal anything. This is exactly what Trayvon’s mom was talking about. Unapologetic character assassination of victims by their killers and the system that is to protect them. The police did not release the entire tape an instead led the public to believe Mike abt own robbed the store. The full video shows him paying for his products. I’m happy the media is now calling out the police dept for their lies and misleading info.

Stealing a cigarette does not deserve a death penalty. plus for a country like that who set murderers free after spending some years in jail, this is a totally inhuman thing to do. so please your statement no sell at all.

@DivaMe: You cannot be serious with this, you honestly cannot be serious!

First, it has not been proven the Mike Brown was the person involved in the convenience store robbery, that information has nothing to do with his life being taken. Second, the police officer was not responding to a call with response to the robbery, the officer had no knowledge of the robbery so what exactly was he shooting at? Third, Mike Brown when he was stopped, had his hands in the air, in a position of submission, he posed no threat to anyone, more than 2 eye witnesses have confirmed that.

And finally and most importantly, whether someone steals a pack of cigarettes or a jet plane, that is no cause to shoot an unarmed person (who is in a position of surrender and poses zero threat to you) a total of 6 times, twice in the head. Mike Brown was a human being, not some rabid dog to be shot so senselessly.

Keep in mind the shop owners did not call the police to report theft. So the shooting is completely unrelated.

White kids pick up lil items from stores here and there, and its called fooling around. why is it different for a black kid.

Ok say he stole a pack of cigarettes which is less than $10, you actually believe shooting him is the best punishment? Why didn’t they arrest him and charge with petty crime?

I will be the 1st to say african americans are the cause of their downfall most times, but this time, its a no. Unless this guy was shooting at someone, he did not deserve to be shot 6 times, no ambulance was called, he was left on the street uncovered under the hot sun for 4 hours.

Where did you read that the guy went into a store to steal cigarette? Even the police department withdrew their initial statement about that and finally said he and his friend were asked to get off the road which they refused to do as they told the police officer that they were close to their destination. You should get your story right before you misinform the public.

The police actually made a statement and released the surveillance video from the store. I guess they were forced to withdraw it when the store owner confirmed he did not make any police call for robbery so there’s no way the police was responding to a robbery

I always ask myself “Why unarmed person is killed by a gun without first asking him/her why he/she is moving at night or where that person is going?” I thought that police is there to keep the citizens and their property. If it is not like that in America, may the Almighty Jehovah God have mercy on us.

On the contrary, there were no packs of cigarette found on Mike Browns person, but a stupid ploy of Ferguson police to frame him. Even if he did “steal” the supposed pack of cigarettes, is it enough to shoot to kill an unarmed teenager? For cigarettes? and to kill?

Six bullets kwa! for a pack of cigarettes? The system would have to protect itself anyway it can to keep people from not believing in it. See the way some people have started rationalizing why the shooter did what he did forgetting that, it was six bullets one is enough to stop any human and target practice should teach you to shoot on specific parts.